James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
About James Madison University
James Madison University is a public research university in Harrisonburg, Virginia, with about 20,888 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 71.52% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $69,954 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- James Madison University charges about 2.6× the national public median tuition ($14,250).
- Versus the Virginia median, sticker tuition is 13% below.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 79.72%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $69,954.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at James Madison University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 650% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Finding
James Madison University awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 76 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Madison University | $14,250 | $23,322 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| Virginia (state median) | $16,364 | $8,852 | 107 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,600 | $14,971 | 1,517 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is James Madison University really?
Key findings
- James Madison University charges about 2.6× the national public median tuition ($14,250).
- Versus the Virginia median, sticker tuition is 13% below.
James Madison University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $14,250
Finding James Madison University charges about 2.6× the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $14,250. That is about 2.6× the national public median ($5,512). Versus the Virginia median ($16,364), sticker tuition is 13% below. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 20% above.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at James Madison University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at James Madison University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at James Madison University is $23,322.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $23,322 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $14,470 above the Virginia median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $8,351 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At James Madison University, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
James Madison University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for James Madison University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$14,250
Out-of-state tuition
$31,604
Avg. net price
$23,322
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $11,444 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $12,977 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $16,475 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $22,343 |
| $110,001+ | $30,147 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $57,000. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What James Madison University is known for
Top program completions
- Speech Communication and Rhetoric455
- Community Health Services/Liaison/Counseling451
- Psychology, General318
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse274
- Business Administration and Management, General234
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 18% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1256
- Midpoint ACT: 27
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is James Madison University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
James Madison University is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for James Madison University.
Campus
Location
Harrisonburg, VA
City / state
- ZIP
- 22807
- NCES locale
- Town
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is 56% above the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Southeast
- Carnegie
- Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity
Size
Enrollment
20,888
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 23,568
- Graduate
- 1,767
- Full-time share
- 95%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$20,093
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 17.12%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for James Madison University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at James Madison University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for James Madison University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $9,176 | $23,654 | $17,924 |
| 2014 | $9,662 | $24,522 | $18,412 |
| 2015 | $10,018 | $25,152 | $19,669 |
| 2016 | $10,390 | $26,164 | $20,036 |
| 2017 | $10,830 | $27,230 | $20,204 |
| 2018 | $12,016 | $28,416 | $21,281 |
| 2019 | $12,206 | $29,106 | $22,169 |
| 2020 | $12,330 | $29,230 | $22,562 |
| 2021 | $12,638 | $29,564 | $22,431 |
| 2022 | $13,092 | $30,152 | $22,465 |
| 2023 | $13,576 | $30,790 | $21,816 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1256 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 27 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.40
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
James Madison University reported total enrollment of about 20,888 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 44% male and 56% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (72.2%), Hispanic or Latino (8.8%), and Two or More Races (5.7%). About 17.12% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 20.8% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
94.7% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at James Madison University in 2024 is 20,888 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 23,568 students. Graduate enrollment is about 1,767 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
92.0%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
65.63% 100% Completion Time
79.72% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 65.63% of students graduating from James Madison University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Speech Communication and Rhetoric: 35% male / 65% female
- Community Health Services/Liaison/Counseling: 16% male / 84% female
- Psychology, General: 18% male / 82% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
James Madison University graduates earn a median of $69,954 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of James Madison University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $69,954. Median federal loan debt: $20,093. Average net price used in cost models: $23,322.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway James Madison University graduates report median earnings of $69,954 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for James Madison University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (76 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at James Madison University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for James Madison University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for James Madison University—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$135.4M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Virginia median 4.4× the median ($30.9M)
- Southeast median 7.0× the median ($19.4M)
- U.S. median 5.1× the median ($26.4M)
- Virginia median 0.48× the median ($13,171)
- Southeast median 0.68× the median ($9,308)
- U.S. median 0.53× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 80.9%
- Virginia median 19.9 pp above median (61.0%)
- Southeast median 21.5 pp above median (59.4%)
- U.S. median 23.0 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $10,916
- Virginia median 1.3× the median ($8,196)
- Southeast median 1.6× the median ($6,825)
- U.S. median 1.4× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $10,620
- Virginia median 1.4× the median ($7,382)
- Southeast median 1.6× the median ($6,602)
- U.S. median 1.5× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
James Madison University at a glance
James Madison University
James Madison University is a public institution in Harrisonburg, VA, classified as Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Speech Communication and RhetoricCommunity Health Services/Liaison/CounselingPsychology, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian72.2%Hispanic or Latino8.8%Two or More Races5.7%
Schools near James Madison University
Other campuses in Harrisonburg, VA when available, plus nearby institutions in Virginia.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade B) within Virginia, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is James Madison University located?
James Madison University is located in Harrisonburg, VA.
What is James Madison University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at James Madison University is 71.5% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 35,750 applicants and 27,258 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is James Madison University's tuition?
James Madison University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $14,250 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $23,322 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does James Madison University cost?
Reported tuition is $14,250 and average net price is $23,322 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $13,056 annually.
What explains James Madison University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($23,322), completion (79.7% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($69,954). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at James Madison University?
James Madison University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 23,568 students, White (72.2%), Hispanic or Latino (8.8%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend James Madison University?
About 20.8% of students at James Madison University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for James Madison University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, James Madison University reports midpoint SAT about 1256 and midpoint ACT about 27.
What do graduates of James Madison University earn?
Median earnings are $57,438 six years after entry and $69,954 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at James Madison University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 79.7% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do James Madison University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $20,093.
Is James Madison University public or private?
James Madison University is a public institution located in Harrisonburg, VA.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.